Systems and methods for providing haptic effects in response to deformation of a cover for an electronic device

ABSTRACT

A system includes an electronic device that includes a display screen, a cover configured to cover the display screen, a sensor configured to sense an input gesture comprising deformation and/or movement of the cover relative to the electronic device, and a processor configured to determine an action for the electronic device to perform based on the input gesture, to determine a haptic effect to generate based on the input gesture and/or the action for the electronic device to perform, and to initiate the action. The system also includes a haptic output device configured to generate the haptic effect.

FIELD

The present invention is generally directed to systems and methods forproviding haptic effects in response to deformation of a flexible coverfor an electronic device.

BACKGROUND

Handheld electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and e-bookreaders, are frequently used with covers that protect their screens andcan be peeled off while in use. It is increasingly common for suchdevices to be able to detect the state of the cover and take an actionbased on the detected state. For example, many screen covers cause thedisplay screen of the electronic device to turn off when the cover isclosed. It is expected that covers for electronic devices willeventually be instrumented so that gestures, such as bending the coveror one of the corners of the cover, or peeling the cover off of theelectronic device, can be detected and used for user input.

SUMMARY

It is desirable to improve a user's interactions with a cover of anelectronic device by providing additional information to the user.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a system thatincludes an electronic device comprising a display screen, a coverconfigured to cover the display screen, a sensor configured to sense aninput gesture that includes deformation and/or movement of the coverrelative to the electronic device, and a processor configured todetermine an action for the electronic device to perform based on theinput gesture, to determine a haptic effect to generate based on theinput gesture and/or the action for the electronic device to perform,and to initiate the action. The system also includes a haptic outputdevice configured to generate the haptic effect.

In an embodiment, the sensor is selected from the group consisting of: abend sensor, a light sensor, a pressure sensor, a contact sensor, apotentiometer, an angular sensor, an angular velocity sensor, anaccelerometer, and a magnetic sensor.

In an embodiment, the haptic output device includes an actuatorconfigured to generate vibrations.

In an embodiment, the cover includes the actuator.

In an embodiment, the system includes a hinge that connects the cover tothe electronic device, and the hinge includes the actuator.

In an embodiment, the haptic output device is embedded in the cover andincludes an electro-rheological or magneto-rheological fluid to controla stiffness of the cover.

In an embodiment, the haptic output device includes an electrostaticfriction device configured to generate a friction effect at a surface ofthe cover. In an embodiment, the surface of the cover faces theelectronic device when the cover covers the display screen.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method thatincludes sensing an input gesture comprising deformation and/or movementof a cover for an electronic device relative to the electronic devicewith a sensor, determining an action for the electronic device toperform based on the input gesture with a processor, determining ahaptic effect to generate based on the input gesture and/or the actionfor the electronic device to perform with the processor, initiating theaction for the electronic device to perform with the processor, andgenerating the haptic effect with a haptic output device during and/orafter the sensing of the input gesture.

In an embodiment, the haptic effect is generated during the sensing ofthe input gesture.

In an embodiment, the haptic effect is generated after the sensing ofthe input gesture.

In an embodiment, the haptic effect is generated after the action iscompleted to confirm completion of the action.

In an embodiment, the haptic effect includes resisting peeling of thecover away from the electronic device.

In an embodiment, the haptic effect includes creating a texture when thecover is peeled away from the electronic device.

In an embodiment, the haptic effect includes changing a stiffness of thecover.

In an embodiment, the haptic effect includes a tactile sensation on asurface of the cover facing the electronic device when the cover coversthe electronic device.

In an embodiment, the haptic effect includes a tactile sensation on atop surface of the cover opposite a surface facing the electronic devicewhen the cover covers the electronic device.

In an embodiment, the method includes determining whether the action canbe initiated, and the haptic effect includes resisting the deformationwhen the action cannot be initiated.

In an embodiment, the haptic effect includes actuating at least onehinge located along at least one crease in the cover to fold the coverat the crease.

In an embodiment, the haptic effect includes restricting movement of thecover to a predetermined angle relative to the electronic device basedon the action.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a cover foran electronic device. The cover includes a sensor configured to sense aninput gesture comprising deformation and/or movement of the coverrelative to the electronic device, and a haptic output device configuredto generate a haptic effect based on the input gesture.

In an embodiment, the cover includes a processor configured to determinean action for the electronic device to perform based on the inputgesture, to determine the haptic effect to generate based on the inputgesture and/or the action for the electronic device to perform, and toinitiate the action.

These and other aspects, features, and characteristics of the presentinvention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of therelated elements of structure and the combination of parts and economiesof manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description and the appended claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification.It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for thepurpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as adefinition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specificationand in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” includeplural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components of the following Figures are illustrated to emphasize thegeneral principles of the present disclosure and are not necessarilydrawn to scale. Reference characters designating correspondingcomponents are repeated as necessary throughout the Figures for the sakeof consistency and clarity.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system that includes an electronic device and acover in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a processor of the system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A illustrates an embodiment of a hinge of the cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B illustrates an embodiment of the hinge of the cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4C illustrates an embodiment of the hinge of the cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8A illustrates an embodiment of the cover of FIG. 1 in a flexiblecondition;

FIG. 8B illustrates an embodiment of the cover of FIG. 8A in a rigidcondition;

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the system of FIG. 9;

FIG. 10A illustrates an embodiment of the system of FIG. 1 with a firstpart of an input gesture being performed;

FIG. 10B illustrates an embodiment of the system of FIG. 10A with asecond part of the input gesture begin performed;

FIG. 10C illustrates an embodiment of the system of FIG. 10B with athird part of the input gesture being performed;

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates a method in accordance withembodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system 100 in accordance withembodiments of the invention. The system 100 includes an electronicdevice 110 that includes a display screen 112, and a cover 120configured to be coupled, connected, or attached to the electronicdevice 110 along one edge thereof. The electronic device 110 may be atablet, a smartphone, an e-reader, a calculator or any other electronicdevice that may be used with a connectable or attachable cover. Thecover 120 is configured to allow access to the electronic device 110when in an open position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and cover thedisplay screen 112 of the electronic device 110 when in a closedposition (not shown).

The cover 120 may be configured to protect the electronic device 110when in the closed position. In an embodiment, the cover 120 may beconfigured to receive the electronic device 110 so when the electronicdevice 110 sits inside the cover 120 and the cover 120 is in the closedposition, the cover 120 substantially or completely surrounds theelectronic device 110. In an embodiment, the cover 120 may include atleast one hinge 122 that is configured to releasably connect or attachthe cover 120 to the electronic device 110 via a magnet or othermechanism that allows the cover 120 to be releasably connected to theelectronic device 110. The cover 120 may be transparent or partiallytransparent such that at least a portion of the cover 120 allows thedisplay screen 112 to display images to the user when the cover 120 isin a closed position. In an embodiment, the cover 120 may be atransparent or opaque cover that is used as an interactive layer for theuser to provide input gestures to the electronic device 110. In anembodiment, the cover 120 is flexible so that the user may bend, fold,twist, roll or otherwise deform the cover 120 and a manner that thecover 120 may be used as an interactive interface for applicationsrunning on the underlying electronic device 110.

Upon detection of an input gesture in the form of deformation of thecover 120, the electronic device 110 may then perform an action based onthe input gesture that has been detected, such as turning on the displayscreen 112 or changing the information displayed on the display screen112. The action to be performed may be dependent on the context, and maybe programmed as part of an application or the operating system of theelectronic device 110.

As schematically illustrated in FIG. 2, the system 100 includes aprocessor 130, a memory device 140, and input/output devices 150, whichmay be interconnected via a bus and/or communications network 160. In anembodiment, the input/output devices 150 may include at least one sensor170, at least one haptic output device 180, the display 112 illustratedin FIG. 1, a speaker 190 and/or other input/output devices.

The processor 130 may be a general-purpose or specific-purpose processoror microcontroller for managing or controlling the operations andfunctions of the system 100. For example, the processor 130 may bespecifically designed as an application-specific integrated circuit(“ASIC”) to control output signals to a user of the input/output devices150 to provide haptic feedback or effects to the user. The processor 130may be configured to decide, based on predefined factors, what hapticfeedback or effects are to be generated based on a haptic signalreceived or determined by the processor 130, the order in which thehaptic effects are generated, and the magnitude, frequency, duration,and/or other parameters of the haptic effects. The processor 130 mayalso be configured to provide streaming commands that can be used todrive the haptic output device 180 for providing a particular hapticeffect. The processor 130 may be part of the electronic device 110 orthe cover 120. In some embodiments, more than one processor 130 may beincluded in the system 100, with each processor 130 configured toperform certain functions within the system 100. For example, in anembodiment, a first processor may be part of the electronic device 110and a second processor may be part of the cover 120. An embodiment ofthe processor 130 is described in further detail below.

The memory device 140 may include one or more internally fixed storageunits, removable storage units, and/or remotely accessible storageunits. The various storage units may include any combination of volatilememory and non-volatile memory. The storage units may be configured tostore any combination of information, data, instructions, software code,etc. More particularly, the storage units may include haptic effectprofiles, instructions for how the haptic output device 180 of theinput/output devices 150 is to be driven, and/or other information forgenerating haptic feedback or effects. The memory device 140 may be partof the electronic device 110 or the cover 120.

The bus and/or communications network 160 may be configured to allowsignal communication between the various components of the system 100and also to access information from remote computers or servers throughanother communications network. The communications network may includeone or more of a wireless communications network, an Internet, apersonal area network (“PAN”), a local area network (“LAN”), ametropolitan area network (“MAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), etc. Thecommunications network may include local radio frequencies, cellular(GPRS, CDMA, GSM, CDPD, 2.5G, 3G, 4G LTE, etc.), Ultra-WideBand (“UWB”),WiMax, ZigBee, and/or other ad-hoc/mesh wireless network technologies,etc.

The sensor 170 is configured to detect the deformation and/or movementof the cover 120 with respect to the electronic device 110. The sensor170 may be part of the cover 120, the electronic device 110, or both thecover 120 and the electronic device 110. The deformations may includebending, folding, rolling, or twisting the cover 120, or peeling thecover 120 off of the electronic device 110 from an edge or corner. Themovements may include sliding the cover 120 relative to the electronicdevice 110, or separating the cover 120 from the electronic device 110.The sensor 170 may include: a bend sensor (e.g., FSR, strain gauge,fiber optic sensor), a light sensor, a pressure sensor, a contactsensor, a mechanical switch that may detect when the cover 120 is movedoff the electronic device 110, a potentiometer or other angular sensorin the hinge 122, an accelerometer, a gyroscope or other angularvelocity sensor, a magnetic sensor (e.g., magnetic markers on the cover120), etc.

Additional sensors 170 may be included in the system 100. For example,in an embodiment, the electronic device 110 may include a proximitysensor configured to sense the location of a user input element, such asthe user's hand or a part of the user's hand, such as a finger, or astylus, to the display screen 112, which may be part of a touchsensitive device. In an embodiment, the cover 120 may include a touchsensitive device configured to sense touch inputs provided by the useron the cover 120 so that the user may interact with the electronicdevice without opening the cover 120 or taking the cover 120 off of theelectronic device 110. In an embodiment, the electronic device 110and/or the cover 120 may include a pressure sensor configured to measurethe pressure applied to a touch location at the touch sensitive device.In an embodiment, the system 100 may include a temperature, humidity,and/or atmospheric pressure sensor configured to measure environmentalconditions. In an embodiment, the system 100 may include a physiologicalsensor configured to capture a user's physiological signals, such asheart rate, etc. In an embodiment, the system 100 may include imagesensors and/or a camera configured to capture a user's facialexpressions and associated biometric information.

The haptic output device 180 is configured to provide haptic feedback tothe user of the system 100 and may be part of the cover 120 or theelectronic device 110. In an embodiment, the cover 120 and theelectronic device 110 may each include at least one haptic output device180. The haptic output device 180 may be powered by an energy sourceprovided on the electronic device 110 and/or the cover 120.

The haptic feedback provided by the haptic output device 180 may becreated with any of the methods of creating haptic effects, such asvibration, deformation, kinesthetic sensations, electrostatic orultrasonic friction, etc. In an embodiment, the haptic output device 180may include an actuator, for example, an electromagnetic actuator suchas an Eccentric Rotating Mass (“ERM”) in which an eccentric mass ismoved by a motor, a Linear Resonant Actuator (“LRA”) in which a massattached to a spring is driven back and forth, or a “smart material”such as piezoelectric materials, electro-active polymers or shape memoryalloys, a macro-composite fiber actuator, an electro-static actuator, anelectro-tactile actuator, and/or another type of actuator that providesa physical feedback such as vibrotactile feedback. A suitable hapticoutput device 180 may be selected based on its size and/or output. Forexample, piezoelectric materials and/or electro-active polymers, asrepresented by 180A in FIG. 1, may be more suitable to be embedded in aflexible cover 120 due to their thinness. Other actuators, such as ERM'sand LRA's may be embedded in larger components of the system 100, suchas in the hinges 122 of the cover 120, as represented by 180B in FIG. 1,or in the body of the electronic device 110, as represented by 180C inFIG. 1, but desirably placed in such a way that haptic effects may befelt through the cover 120. By providing haptic output devices on thecover 120 and on the electronic device 110, richer, more distinct hapticfeedback may be generated to provide the user with additionalinformation as compared to having a haptic output device only on theelectronic device 110, for example.

The haptic output device 180 may include non-mechanical or non-vibratorydevices such as those that use electrostatic friction (“ESF”),ultrasonic friction (“USF”), or those that induce acoustic radiationpressure with an ultrasonic haptic transducer, or those that use ahaptic substrate and a flexible or deformable surface, or those thatprovide thermal effects, or those that provide projected haptic outputsuch as a puff of air using an air jet, and so on. Multiple hapticoutput devices 180 may be used to generate different haptic effects,which may be used to create a wide range of effects such asdeformations, vibrations, etc. For example, pulses of vibration may givethe illusion that a flexible surface is more flexible than it really is,that it is made of a specific material, such as wood or plastic, or thatit is bending at discrete points (i.e. detents). Additional examples ofhaptic effects that may be generated by the haptic output device 180 arediscussed below.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the processor 130 in more detail.The processor 130 may be configured to execute one or more computerprogram modules. The one or more computer program modules may includeone or more of a sensor module 132, an input module 134, a determinationmodule 136, a haptic output device control module 138, and/or othermodules. The processor 130 may also include electronic storage 139,which may be the same as the memory device 140 or in addition to thememory device 140. The processor 130 may be configured to execute themodules 132, 134, 136 and/or 138 by software, hardware, firmware, somecombination of software, hardware, and/or firmware, and/or othermechanisms for configuring processing capabilities on processor 130.

It should be appreciated that although modules 132, 134, 136 and 138 areillustrated in FIG. 3 as being co-located within a single processingunit, in embodiments in which the system includes multiple processors,one or more of modules 132, 134, 136 and/or 138 may be located remotelyfrom the other modules. The description of the functionality provided bythe different modules 132, 134, 136 and/or 138 described below is forillustrative purposes, and is not intended to be limiting, as any of themodules 132, 134, 136 and/or 138 may provide more or less functionalitythan is described. For example, one or more of the modules 132, 134, 136and/or 138 may be eliminated, and some or all of its functionality maybe provided by other ones of the modules 132, 134, 136 and/or 138. Asanother example, the processor 130 may be configured to execute one ormore additional modules that may perform some or all of thefunctionality attributed below to one of the modules 132, 134, 136and/or 138.

The sensor module 132 is configured to receive a signal from the sensor170 that is generated when the sensor 170 detects deformation of thecover 120, which may be used as an input gesture by the user. The sensormodule 132 is programmed to analyze raw sensor data received from thesensor 170 and determine whether a deformation of the cover 120 hasoccurred above a predetermined threshold to indicate an input gesture bythe user. For example, the sensor module 132 may determine that a singlecorner of the cover 120 has been bent based on the readings from one ormore sensors 170 on the cover 120 by an amount that indicates an inputgesture has been made. The sensor module 132 may also determine that thecover 120 has been peeled off the display screen 112 by an amount thatexposes pixels starting at a certain column on the display screen 112,which correlates to a particular input gesture. Upon determining thatthe sensed deformation of the cover 120 is above a predeterminedthreshold that indicates an input gesture is being made by the user, thesensor module 132 may output a signal to the input module 134 forfurther processing.

The input module 134 is configured or programmed to receive a signalfrom the sensor module 132 that is generated when the sensor module 132detects a deformation of the cover 120 that is above a predeterminedthreshold indicating the user is making an input gesture. For example,the user may indicate an input by bending the cover 120 at one cornerthereof, or by folding a part of the cover 120 away from the electronicdevice 110, or by twisting a part of the cover 120, or by a sequence ofbending, folding and/or twisting parts of the cover 120. The inputmodule 134 may be programmed with a look-up table that provides acorrelation of the signals received from the sensor module 132 topredefined input gestures. After the input gesture has been identified,the input module 134 is configured or programmed to send a signal to thedetermination module 136 for further processing.

The determination module 136 is configured or programmed to determinewhat type of action is to be taken by the system 100 according to thesignal received from the input module 134, and what type of hapticfeedback is to be generated by the haptic output device 180. Thedetermination module 136 may be programmed with a library of inputgesture and function information that is available to the system 100 andcorresponding haptic effect, if any, so that the determination module136 may determine a corresponding output. In addition to sending asignal to command a particular action to be taken by the electronicdevice 110, the determination module 136 may also output a signal to thehaptic output device control module 138 so that a suitable haptic effectmay be provided to the user. For example, an input gesture involvingbending a corner of the cover 120 may correspond to the electronicdevice 110 retrieving e-mail from a server, and the haptic effect mayindicate how many new e-mails have been retrieved from the server.

The haptic output device control module 138 is configured or programmedto determine a haptic control signal to output to the haptic outputdevice 180, based on the signal generated by the determination module136. Determining the haptic control signal may include determining oneor more parameters that include an amplitude, frequency, duration, etc.,of the haptic feedback that will be generated by the haptic outputdevice 180 to provide the desired effect to the user, based on allinputs to the system 100.

As indicated above, the haptic output device 180 may be used to producehaptic effects while the user is performing the input gesture or afterthe input gesture has been completed. The haptic feedback may, forexample, provide information about the ongoing input gesture and itseffect. The haptic feedback may also be used to confirm that an inputgesture has been accepted.

In an embodiment, the haptic feedback may be generated while the userperforms an input gesture with the cover 120. For example, in anembodiment, the cover 120 may be configured to resist peeling or producea realistic texture when peeled off of the electronic device 110. Thismay, for example, replicate the feel of tape, static attraction, thecreaking of a hinge, or the texture of a material such as wood beingbent. In an embodiment, the cover 120 may be configured to changestiffness to replicate water, sand, or other materials. In anembodiment, the cover 120 may be configured to produce tactilesensations on one or both of its surfaces, for example, usingelectrostatic frictional effect.

The haptic feedback may be used to confirm which of many possible inputgestures has been provided by the user. A different action may, forexample, be triggered by pulling on the cover 120 at different locationsalong its edge, and a haptic texture may be used to indicate which ofthese actions has been selected.

The haptic output device 180 may also be used to indicate or restrictwhich input gestures can be performed. For example, in an embodiment,the cover 120 may be configured to resist an input gesture, such aspeeling, when the associated function is not available. The cover 120may also be configured to resist peeling at specific locations, such aswhen specific content is about to be revealed.

In an embodiment, the cover 120 may be configured to allow folding alongspecific creases 124 with actuated hinges 180D illustrated in FIG. 1.The folding may be restricted based on the application, e.g. allowingonly 45-degree folds to be made. In an embodiment, the cover 120 may beforced to snap against the screen at a specific angle based on theapplication. In an embodiment, the cover 120 may be configured to deformin a visible manner to indicate available input gestures, such asbending a corner.

The haptic feedback may be delivered through a variety of haptic outputdevices, some of which may make use of the unique properties of thecover 120, such as the presence of the hinges 122. The cover 120 may beused to deliver haptic feedback while located on the front or the backof the electronic device 110. A third-party cover in accordance withembodiments of the invention may provide the system 100 with hapticfeedback even though the electronic device 110 is not configured togenerate haptic feedback. Haptic feedback may be applied through thehinges 122 of the cover 120, either where the cover 120 couples to theelectronic device 110, or in the folds 124 of the cover 120.

In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4A, a DC motor 410 may, forexample, be placed at the hinge 122 and control movement of the hinge122 and, therefore, the cover 120 relative to the electronic device 110.In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4B, one or more wires 420 maysimilarly be used to pull the two sides of the hinge 122 and make thehinge 122 move so that the cover 120 moves relative to the electronicdevice 110. In an embodiment, a DC motor may be used to shorten thewire(s) 420. In an embodiment, the wire(s) 420 may be made from a shapememory alloy or similar material and configured to contract to pull thetwo sides of the hinge 122 together. In an embodiment, the hinge 122 maybe used to move the cover 120 laterally relative to the electronicdevice 110, instead of making the cover 120 rotate relative to theelectronic device 110. For example, as schematically illustrated in FIG.4C, a DC motor or voice coil 430 may, for example, be activated withinthe hinge 122 to push the cover 120 laterally relative to the electronicdevice 110, as indicated by the double arrow. By having a haptic outputdevice in any of the forms illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C, the cover 120 mayproduce a variety of haptic effects as it rotates on the hinge 122relative to the electronic device 110 or moves laterally on the hinge122 relative to the electronic device 110. Such haptic effects,generally denoted by 500 in FIG. 5, may include resistance, textures,detents, etc. In an embodiment, the haptic effects 500 may be mapped todifferent experiences, such as opening a creaking door as the cover 120is pulled away from the electronic device 110 in the direction of thearrow.

Different mechanisms may be used to produce an attraction or repulsionforce between the cover 120 and the electronic device 110, and affecthow the cover 120 reacts to being pulled open. As illustrated in FIG. 6,in an embodiment, a pneumatic system 600 may, for example, openmicrovalves 610 on an inner surface 126 of the cover 120 and use a pump620 that creates a suction force through the microvalves 610 against theelectronic device 110. In an embodiment, the pump 620 may be used topush a gas, such as air, through the microvalves 610 to create arepulsion force between the cover 120 and the electronic device 110. Inan embodiment, an electric field may similarly be created on theelectronic device 110 or the inner part of the cover 120 to create anelectrostatic attraction or repulsion force between the electronicdevice 110 and the cover 120. In an embodiment schematically illustratedin FIG. 7, electromagnets 700 may be embedded in the cover 120 and/orthe electronic device 110 and may cause an attraction or repulsion forcebetween the cover 120 and the electronic device 110, depending on thepolarity of the electromagnets 700. In an embodiment, microfluidics mayalso be used to create small dimples on the inner surface of the cover120 or on the electronic device 110 in order to break an attractionforce, e.g. due to a magnetic snapping mechanism or the naturalelectrostatic forces.

In embodiments of the invention, the haptic effect may be in the form ofchanging a stiffness of the cover 120, as schematically illustrated inFIGS. 8A and 8B. In an embodiment, electro-rheological ormagneto-rheological fluids may be embedded in the cover 120 to controlits stiffness. In an embodiment, particle jamming may be used to stiffenthe cover 120 on command. In an embodiment, wires 800 made from shapememory alloys may be stiffened or wires actuated with a DC motor may bepulled in order to make the cover 120 more rigid. FIG. 8A illustratesthe cover 120 in a flexible condition, and FIG. 8B illustrated the cover120 in a stiff or rigid condition.

In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the cover 120 may have anelectrostatic friction device 900 on its inner surface 126 that facesthe electronic device 110 when the cover 120 is in the closed positionand/or its outer surface. The electrostatic frictional force effects,represented by 910 in FIG. 9 and generated by the electrostatic frictiondevice 900 may be felt as the cover 120 is manipulated, such as whenopening the cover 120. The electrostatic frictional force feedback mayalso represent the state of the electronic device 110 or content of thedisplay screen 112 while the cover 120 is closed. The electrostaticfrictional force effects 910 may also be used to affect the frictionproperties of the cover 120, and therefore how easy the cover 120 is tomanipulate.

In an implementation of embodiments of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C, the electronic device 110 may be a phone or atablet, and the user may unlock his/her phone by rolling off the cover120 in a manner that only the user knows. As the user completes thedifferent steps of the input gesture, represented by arrows in FIGS.10A, 10B and 10C, the user may receive haptic feedback that confirms thesteps of the input gesture.

In an implementation of embodiments of the invention illustrated in FIG.11, a user may fold or slightly unroll the cover 120 coupled to his/herelectronic device 110, which may be a tablet, to partially reveal thescreen of the tablet and see incoming notifications in a discrete,private manner. Sensor(s) in the cover 120 may allow the cover 120 to beused for input when in this mode, so that the user may bend or roll thecover 120 to scroll through the notifications and receive confirmationhaptic feedback to indicate that a “peeking mode” has been activated andto confirm each input.

In an implementation of embodiments of the invention, a user may use ane-book that has a flexible overlay. The user may bend the corners of theoverlay slightly to flip to the next page of the e-book. The user maybend and hold to flip through multiple pages. As the user does so, theuser may feel realistic haptic effects that remind him/her ofmanipulating a real book.

In an implementation of embodiments of the invention, a user may use adrawing application on his/her desktop computer. The monitor of thecomputer may have an overlay that allows the user to peek at the imagehe/she is working on before and after a certain operation is applied.Haptic effects may be generated to remind the user of the static feel ofa sheet of plastic acetate. When the operation cannot be previewed, theoverlay may resist peeling to clearly indicate that the option is notavailable.

In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, deformation of the cover 120may be used by the user to control aspects of the electronic device 110.For example, as the user flicks a corner of the cover 120, the displayscreen 112 of the electronic device 100 may scroll the contents beingdisplayed. Different input gestures, such as bending different parts ofthe cover 120 or twisting the cover 120, for example, may be used tocontrol different functions of the electronic device 110, which mayprovide a flexible input on an otherwise rigid electronic device 110.

FIG. 13 illustrates a method 1300 in accordance with embodiments of theinvention. At 1310, an input gesture that includes deformation and/ormovement of the cover 120 relative to the electronic device 110 issensed or detected by the sensor 170 described above. At 1320, an actionfor the electronic device 110 to perform is determined, based on theinput gesture, by the processor 130 described above. At 1330, a hapticeffect to be generated based on the input gesture and/or the action forthe electronic device 110 to perform is determined by the processor 130.At 1340, the action for the electronic device 110 to perform isinitiated by the processor 130. At 1350, the haptic effect is generatedwith the haptic output device 180 during and/or after the sensing of theinput gesture. The method 1300 may be repeated.

The embodiments described herein represent a number of possibleimplementations and examples and are not intended to necessarily limitthe present disclosure to any specific embodiments. Variousmodifications can be made to these embodiments as would be understood byone of ordinary skill in the art. Any such modifications are intended tobe included within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure andprotected by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: an electronic devicecomprising a display screen; a cover configured to cover the displayscreen; a sensor configured to sense an input gesture comprisingdeformation and/or movement of the cover relative to the electronicdevice; a processor configured to determine an action for the electronicdevice to perform based on the input gesture, to determine a hapticeffect to generate based on the input gesture and/or the action for theelectronic device to perform, and to initiate the action; and a hapticoutput device configured to generate the haptic effect.
 2. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the sensor is selected from the groupconsisting of: a bend sensor, a light sensor, a pressure sensor, acontact sensor, a potentiometer, an angular sensor, an angular velocitysensor, an accelerometer, and a magnetic sensor.
 3. The system accordingto claim 1, wherein the haptic output device comprises an actuatorconfigured to generate vibrations.
 4. The system according to claim 3,wherein the cover comprises the actuator.
 5. The system according toclaim 3, further comprising a hinge connecting the cover to theelectronic device, wherein the hinge comprises the actuator.
 6. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device isembedded in the cover and comprises an electro-rheological ormagneto-rheological fluid to control a stiffness of the cover.
 7. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the haptic output device comprisesan electrostatic friction device configured to generate a frictioneffect at a surface of the cover.
 8. The system according to claim 7,wherein the surface of the cover faces the electronic device when thecover covers the display screen.
 9. A method comprising: sensing aninput gesture comprising deformation and/or movement of a cover for anelectronic device relative to the electronic device with a sensor;determining an action for the electronic device to perform based on theinput gesture with a processor; determining a haptic effect to generatebased on the input gesture and/or the action for the electronic deviceto perform with the processor; initiating the action for the electronicdevice to perform with the processor; and generating the haptic effectwith a haptic output device during and/or after the sensing of the inputgesture.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the haptic effectis generated during the sensing of the input gesture.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 9, wherein the haptic effect is generated after thesensing of the input gesture.
 12. The method according to claim 9,wherein the haptic effect is generated after the action is completed toconfirm completion of the action.
 13. The method according to claim 9,wherein the haptic effect comprises resisting peeling of the cover awayfrom the electronic device.
 14. The method according to claim 9, whereinthe haptic effect comprises creating a texture when the cover is peeledaway from the electronic device.
 15. The method according to claim 9,wherein the haptic effect comprises changing a stiffness of the cover.16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the haptic effect comprisesa tactile sensation on a surface of the cover facing the electronicdevice when the cover covers the electronic device.
 17. The methodaccording to claim 9, wherein the haptic effect comprises a tactilesensation on a top surface of the cover opposite a surface facing theelectronic device when the cover covers the electronic device.
 18. Themethod according to claim 9, further comprising determining whether theaction can be initiated, wherein the haptic effect comprises resistingthe deformation when the action cannot be initiated.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 9, wherein the haptic effect comprises actuating atleast one hinge located along at least one crease in the cover to foldthe cover at the crease.
 20. The method according to claim 9, whereinthe haptic effect comprises restricting movement of the cover to apredetermined angle relative to the electronic device based on theaction.
 21. A cover for an electronic device, the cover comprising: asensor configured to sense an input gesture comprising deformationand/or movement of the cover relative to the electronic device; and ahaptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect based on theinput gesture.
 22. The cover according to claim 21, further comprising aprocessor configured to determine an action for the electronic device toperform based on the input gesture, to determine the haptic effect togenerate based on the input gesture and/or the action for the electronicdevice to perform, and to initiate the action.